An encounter between two individuals one usually would not link together...
This chapter is rather different from the others, mainly due to only one member of the trio appearing, and also the addition of a new character. Still, I hope you like it as much as the previous ones!
To Accept His Chosen Path
Summary: He chose a path that was different from theirs. In their eyes, he would always be a boy. But they could also accept that he had become a man, and let him go.
Tsuru awoke and immediately tensed, knowing what had awakened her.
There was someone in the room. Tsuru's eyes narrowed, squinting to see in the darkness. Not for the first time she cursed that there was no light switch beside the bed. One hand reached for the rifle that she always kept near. Fingers closing around the reassuring metal, her eyes never left the shadows.
"Reveal yourself," she barked fiercely.
"Aunt Tsuru."
She relaxed, her grip on her weapon loosening at the familiar voice. "What brings you here like a thief in the night, Dragon?"
She didn't switch on the light, for his sake. She knew that if he had come in this manner, he wouldn't have wanted to attract any attention to his presence. Especially since he had full approval to enter the residential area of Marineford, being the son of an officer.
"Foolish boy. Your father is worried about you, you know."
"He knows that I'm old enough to take care of myself."
"That still will not stop a father from worrying. You will understand one day."
"…Aunt Tsuru, the reason I came here today, is to ask if you could pass a letter to my father."
"A letter?"
"Of farewell."
Tsuru sighed, she had thought as much. "And you would not rather see him personally?"
"…He would probably beat me up straight away, tie me up and lock me in his room."
"With reason. You've been gone for weeks without telling him anything, boy. And now you say that you will be leaving for good? No parent would take that standing."
"Please, Aunt Tsuru. There's something that I need to do. I always felt that you were the one who understands me the most. Can't you understand this?"
"What is so important that you have to leave your family?"
"I too, have the desire to protect this world. But unlike my father and yourself, I do not see a path to that end in Justice."
"Where have you found that path, Dragon?"
"It is a path that I, along with some like-minded others, are determined to create ourselves."
Silence settled as the woman looked pensively at the boy she had watched grow up. He was a man now, with ideals separate from theirs.
"The world is at the cusp of change. This is my goodbye, at least for now. I do not wish to cast suspicion on all of you."
"You think that cutting ties is the only way for us to avoid suspicion?"
"I know that it is so, and so do you. This world is an unforgiving one."
"…" Tsuru sighed. "Very well, I will pass on your message to your father." She took the folded slip of paper that Dragon handed to her.
"Ask him to burn it after he has read it."
"He won't, you know."
"…" Dragon sighed in the darkness, knowing this to be true. "Send my regards to Uncle Sengoku as well. I'll be taking my leave now. Goodbye, Aunt Tsuru... No, it should be Vice Admiral Tsuru."
"I'll always be your Aunt Tsuru," she chided gently.
He was silent, and after a brief moment turned towards the window. She watched as he placed one foot on the windowsill and scanned the surrounding area for patrolling guards. He moved soundlessly, with an air of being used to the dark. When had he learnt to be so stealthy? Where had the serious yet sweet child who used to clumsily stumble around gone?
"Dragon?" The young man paused briefly. "Stay safe."
"You too," he whispered, and then he was gone. Tsuru stood there staring out at the night sky for a long moment before heading back to bed.
That night, Monkey D Dragon let go of his identity and those who loved him.
Come morning, the whole world would know the name Dragon the Revolutionary.
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